2001 Mazda 626 Transmission Problems

THE TRANSMISSION IN MY 2001 MAZDA 626 I4 HAS FAILED TWICE. THE FIRST TIME IT FAILED AT 118,000 MILES WHILE I WAS ACCELERATING FROM A STOP AT A INTERSECTION ALMOST CAUSING AN SERIOUS ACCIDENT WITH THE CARS BEHIND ME. AFTER HAVING THE TRANSMISSION REBUILT FOR 2K THE TRANSMISSION FAILED AGAIN AT 120,000 MILES WHILE ACCELERATING FROM A STOP AT AN INTERSECTION ON A UPHILL SLANT AND ALMOST CAUSED A MAJOR ACCIDENT WITH THE CARS BEHIND ME AS I BACKED THE CAR DOWN THE HILL TO THE CURBSIDE. FORD NEEDS TO RECALL THESE HORRIBLE CD4E TRANSMISSIONS. I HAVE HAD THE TRANSMISSION REBUILT AGAIN AND THE CERTIFIED TRANSMISSION SHOP TELLS ME FORD HAS REDESIGNED THE DRUM FOR THESE TRANSMISSIONS (THE PART THAT FAILED BOTH TIMES) AND THEY ONLY RELEASE THEM 1 AT A TIME FROM THE FORD FACTORY TO TRANSMISSION SHOPS TO AVOID A RECALL ON THE PREVIOUS DESIGN WHICH FAILED ALL OF THEIR CD4E TRANSMISSIONS PREMATURELY. THIS IS VERY POOR CUSTOMER SERVICE ON FORDS PART AND THEY SHOULD STAND BEHIND THEIR PRODUCT AND NOT HIDE FROM THEIR FAILURES WHILE STICKING IT TO THEIR COSTUMERS. I WILL NOT BUY ANOTHER FORD PRODUCT AGAIN. *TR

NHTSA ID

10395684

Incident

Mar 31, 2011

Mileage

118,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 MAZDA 626LX. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH WHEN THE TRANSMISSION BEGAN TO SLIP WITH SEVERE HESITATION. THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED BY TWO DIFFERENT INDEPENDENT MECHANICS WHO ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS DEFECTIVE AND WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 123,000.

NHTSA ID

10376719

Incident

Dec 10, 2010

Mileage

123,000 mi

2001 MAZDA 626. TRANSMISSION SHIFTING CABLE FALLS OFF SHIFT LEVER ON TRANSMISSION. ONCE OCCURS, CAN NOT SHIFT OUT OF WHATEVER POSITION YOU ARE IN AT THE TIME OF THE FAILURE. MAZDA SELLS A NEW CABLE KIT WITH NEW/ADEQUATE CABLE TO TRANSMISSION CONNECTION DEVICE ($180). YOU CAN NOT JUST BUY THE CONNECTOR. MAZDA PARTS PERSON SAID, "WE SELL A LOT OF THESE" INDICATING NUMEROUS FAILURES FOR SAME CAUSE. BEING A MECHANICAL ENGINEER, I RESOLVED THE ISSUE WITH A AXLE NUT AS USED TO HOLD WHEELS ON A CHILD'S WAGON, ETC. *TR

NHTSA ID

10351442

Incident

Aug 15, 2010

Mileage

108,000 mi

O/D LIGHT BLINKING, WONT STOP, CANNOT ENGAGE OR DISENGAGE O/D FUNCTION. *TR

NHTSA ID

10331998

Incident

May 23, 2010

Mileage

108,000 mi

O/D LIGHT FLASHING, AND GEARS SLIPPING. *TR

NHTSA ID

10312309

Incident

Jan 12, 2010

Mileage

135,000 mi

MY 2001 626 (4 CYLINDER) TRANSMISSION NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AT UNDER 81,000 MILES!!!! THE ONLY WARNING SIGN WAS IT WOULDN'T SHIFT INTO REVERSE ONE DAY, THEN BOOM, IT BARELY MOVED FORWARD AGAIN. I HAVE NEVER HAD A PROBLEM WITH THIS CAR AND I HAVE MOSTLY OWNED MAZDA'S SO IMAGINE MY SURPRISE AND DISAPPOINTMENT THAT IT HAPPENED JUST AFTER I LOST MY JOB. NOW I HAVE NO JOB, NO TRANSPORTATION AND NO MEANS TO GET A JOB WITHOUT IT. MAZDA APPARENTLY KNEW THERE WERE PROBLEMS WITH THE TRANSMISSIONS AND CHOSE TO DO NOTHING ABOUT IT. I WILL NEVER PURCHASE OR RECOMMEND A MAZDA EVER AGAIN! AS A RESULT OF YOUR BLATANT FAILURE TO INFORM YOUR CUSTOMERS YOU HAVE LOST AT LEAST ONE GOOD CUSTOMER FOREVER.

NHTSA ID

10307557

Incident

Nov 1, 2009

Mileage

80,800 mi

THE TRANSMISSION ON MY 01 MAZDA 626 IS BROKEN. IT WON'T SHIFT FROM THIRD TO FOURTH GEAR. I KNOW THIS IS A PROBLEM WITH ALMOST EVERY 626 THAT HAS A CD4E TRANSMISSION. SO THE TRANSMISSION IS OBVIOUSLY DEFECTIVE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10282244

Incident

Jun 15, 2009

Mileage

144,000 mi

I OWN A 2001 MAZDA 626 4 CYL. MY CAR'S TRANSMISSION USUALLY RUNS IN THIRD GEAR ON LONG TRIPS AND DOESN'T SHIFT TO THE OVER DRIVE. ALSO, THERE IS A DELAY WHEN SHIFTING FROM SECOND TO THIRD AND FROM THIRD TO OVERDRIVE. IT WORKS FINE SHIFTING FROM FIRST TO SECOND GEAR. THIS IS A REALLY ANNOYING THING COMING FROM THIS CAR. I ALREADY DID A TRANSMISSION FLUSH TO SOLVE THE ISSUE BUT IT WORKED FINE FOR JUST A COUPLE OF DAYS AND IT IS JUST AS IT WAS AT THE BEGINNING. I HOPE SOMEONE TAKES CARE OF THIS BECAUSE THERE IS A LOT OF DISAPPOINTED CUSTOMERS DUE TO THIS COMMON ISSUE IN THIS VEHICLE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10280932

Incident

Apr 15, 2009

Mileage

94,000 mi

2001 MAZDA 626 4 CYLINDER AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILED. THE CAR WILL NOT DRIVE ANYMORE. AFTER DRIVING IT FOR A DISTANCE OF 60 MILES ONE DAY, I PARKED IT, TRIED TO START DRIVING IT AGAIN AND IT WOULDN'T GO. *TR

NHTSA ID

10279651

Incident

Jun 1, 2001

Mileage

128,000 mi

2001 626 MAZDA 4 CY. TRANSMISSION IS GOING OUT AND DUE TO THE NUMBER OF ISSUES REPORTED BY CONSUMERS ABOUT TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS, COSTLY REPAIRS AND EVEN ADDITIONAL PROBLEMS. WHEN IS MAZDA GOING TO BE FORCED TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS ISSUE? IF THEY DO NOT - THIS WILL BE MY LAST MAZDA. *TR

NHTSA ID

10266412

Incident

Apr 7, 2009

Mileage

126,341 mi

TRANSMISSION FAILED, EVEN AFTER PROPER MAINTENANCE. 2ND TRANSMISSION ALSO FAILED 13 MONTHS LATER. 2001 MAZDA 626 ES V6 2.5L AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. *TR

NHTSA ID

10266331

Incident

Dec 20, 2006

Mileage

70,000 mi

TRANSMISSION FAILURE OCCURRED THE FIRST TIME IN EARLY SPRING OF 2003. MY 626 HAD JUST TURNED OVER 53,000 MILES WHEN THE TRANSMISSION WENT. CALLED FOR A TOW, TRANSMISSION PLACE SAID THAT IT WAS LIKELY TO HAVE TO BE A FULL REBUILD. I CALLED DEALERSHIP, THEY CALLED MAZDA AND MAZDA PAID FOR NEW TRANSMISSION AND TOW, EVEN THOUGH THE CAR WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. THIS WEEKEND, DRIVING CAR, NO SIGN OF ANY ISSUE, JUST HAD A FLUID FLUSH DONE ON THE CAR 6,000 MILES AGO SO I KNOW THAT IS FINE. COME HOME AFTER A WEEKEND OF CITY DRIVING AND GO TO GET IN THE CAR THE NEXT MORNING WHEN THE CAR WILL NOT SHIFT. STAYS IN PARK NO MATTER WHAT GEAR I MOVE SHIFTER TO. TAKING IT IN AGAIN WITH ONLY 45,000 MILES ON THE ~NEW~ TRANSMISSION THAT MAZDA PAID FOR THE FIRST TIME ROUND. CAR ONLY HAD 98,000 MILES ON IT AND HAS SUFFERED 2 DIFFERENT TRANSMISSION FAILURES. *TR

NHTSA ID

10264375

Incident

Apr 6, 2009

Mileage

98,000 mi

MY 2001 MAZDA 626 2.0L LX HAS 104,500 MILES ON IT. AROUND 95,000 THE TRANSMISSION STARTED SHIFTING ROUGHLY. THE PROBLEM GOT WORSE OVER TIME AND AT 104,500 MILES I NOW NEED A TRANSMISSION REBUILT. EVERY MECHANIC I HAVE TAKEN IT TO AND TALKED TO KNOWS THE PROBLEMS WITH THIS FORD CD4E BUILT TRANSMISSION AND ARE SHOCKED FORD/MAZDA HAS NOT DONE A RECALL ON THEM. I AM NOW LOOKING AT 2000 DOLLARS IN REPAIRS. PLEASE FORWARD THIS COMPLAINT TO MAZDA ALONG WITH ALL OF THE OTHERS AND MAKE THEM DO WHAT IS RIGHT. SO MANY PEOPLE HAVE BEEN AFFECTED BY THESE HORRIBLE TRANSMISSION FAILURES. PLEASE HELP US ALL. *TR

NHTSA ID

10259644

Incident

Feb 1, 2009

Mileage

95,000 mi

WITH ONLY 115,000 MILES ON 2001 MAZDA 626, THE TRANSMISSION NEEDS REPLACED PER PROFESSIONAL ASSESSMENT. TOOK IT IN AFTER THE OVERDRIVE FUNCTION STOPPED WORKING AND THE ONLY WAY I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE CAR WAS BY TURNING OFF THE OVERDRIVE FUNCTION. *TR

NHTSA ID

10251135

Incident

Dec 8, 2008

Mileage

115,258 mi

I HAVE A 2001 MAZDA 626 WITH ONLY A LITTLE OVER 100,000 MILES AND NOW THE TRANSMISSION WENT OUT. I HAD IT LOOKED AT AND WAS TOLD THAT THE CHAIN INSIDE THE TRANSMISSION WAS SKIPPING LINKS. THE SERVICE MAN WHO LOOKED AT THE CAR TOLD ME THAT HE BELIEVES THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON THIS TRANSMISSION BECAUSE THIS PROBLEM WAS HAPPENING TO ALOT OF MAZDA 626 TRANSMISSIONS. THE CAR IS JUST SITTING NOW BECAUSE WE CAN NOT AFFORD 2000 DOLLARS TO GET THIS FIXED BUT IF ITS POSSIBLE TO BE LOOKED AT I WAS TOLD THAT WE COULD GET IT REPLACED FOR FREE. WE REALLY NEED ASSISTANCE WITH THIS BECAUSE WE HAVE A 10 MONTH OLD DAUGHTER AND ONE RUNNING VEHICLE AND REALLY NEED HELP GETTING THIS PROBLEM FIXED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10247439

Incident

Oct 25, 2008

Mileage

105,000 mi

I BOUGHT A 2001 MAZDA 626 IN 2002 WITH 23,000 MILES UP UNTIL NOW HAVEN'T HAD ANY PROBLEMS. I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE FREEWAY AND MY OVERDRIVE LIGHT STARTED BLINKING, THE CAR MADE IT HOME I TOOK IT TO THE SHOP AND THEY SAID MY TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REBUILT. THERE IS ONLY 117,000 MILES ON THE CAR, SO I GOT ONLINE AND SEARCHED THE PROBLEM AND COME TO FIND THAT THERE ARE PAGES UPON PAGES OF MAZDA 626 OWNERS WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS WHO HAVE OR HAD THE SAME PROBLEM'S. THE SHOP THAT I TOOK MY CAR TO SAID MAZDA/FORD MADE A BAD TRANSMISSION FOR SEVERAL YEARS!!!. I WISH THE CAR MANUFACTURES WOULD MAKE UP FOR THERE MISTAKES AND NOT KEEP PASSING THEM ONTO THE CONSUMERS.. THANKS TIM KEBLIS *TR

NHTSA ID

10243005

Incident

Aug 25, 2008

Mileage

116,000 mi

2001 MAZDA 626 WITH AN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. I PURCHASED THE CAR FROM A MAZDA DEALER, IT WAS A 1 OWNER TRADE-IN WITH ONLY 25,000 ORIGINAL MILES. THE VEHICLE WENT THROUGH A 100 POINT INSPECTION FROM THEIR SERVICE DEPARTMENT. I ONLY HAD THE CAR FOR 5 DAYS BEFORE THE TRANSMISSION WENT OUT. WHEN I PLACED THE TRANSMISSION IN REVERSE OR DRIVE, IT JUST REMAINED STILL AS IF IT WAS STILL IN PARK OR NEUTRAL, IT WAS TOWED TO A MAZDA DEALER AND DIAGNOSED WITH A TORQUE CONVERTER FAILURE. THIS IS APPARENTLY A MAJOR ISSUE WITH MOST MAZDA 626'S, OLD AND NEW! *TR

NHTSA ID

10241230

Incident

Sep 5, 2008

Mileage

25,574 mi

I HAVE A 2001 MAZDA 626 LX WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. THE CAR HAS WORKED GREAT BUT AT 125,000 MILES THE TRANSMISSION WENT OUT. MANY OTHER PEOPLE HAVE HAD SIMILAR PROBLEMS WITH THIS TRANSMISSION AND STILL NO RECALL? I TOOK THE CAR TO A REPUTABLE MECHANICS SHOP AND WAS TOLD THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AND NOT TO WASTE MY MONEY ON IT BECAUSE IT IS KNOWN FOR FAILURES. I TOOK IT TO A SHOP THAT SPECIALIZES IN TRANSMISSIONS AND WAS TOLD THE SAME STORY EXCEPT THEY FELT THEY COULD FIX THE SITUATION WITH AN AFTERMARKET VALVE KIT THAT SOLVES THE PROBLEM. WHY ARE MAZDA AND FORD (THE TRANSMISSION WAS BUILT BY FORD) ALLOWED TO IGNORE THIS PROBLEM? *TR

NHTSA ID

10240892

Incident

Aug 26, 2008

Mileage

125,000 mi

MY MAZDA 626, YEAR 2001 HAS A PROBLEM WITH THE TRANSMISSION. AT FIRST THE CAR WOULD NOT GO INTO REVERSE, THEN THE ENTIRE TRANSMISSION FAILED. I SPOKE WITH A CO-WORKER THAT HAD THE SAME PROBLEM WITH HER MAZDA 626. IS THERE A RECALL ON THE MAZDA. PLEASE HELP ME WITH THE REPAIRS, I CAN'T AFFORD TO GET THE VEHICLE FIXED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10229378

Incident

Apr 15, 2008

Mileage

96,000 mi

AUTOMATION TRANSMISSION WENT OUT ON CAR. HAVE FOUND OUT SENSE THIS HAPPENED THAT IT HAPPENS ALOT ON THE MAZDA 626S BECAUSE IT USES THE FORD CD4E TRANSMISSION THAT FORD HAS ISSUES WITH. *TR

NHTSA ID

10228387

Incident

Mar 12, 2008

Mileage

145,930 mi

1-COMPLETE TRANSMISSION FAILURE, CAR WOULD SLIGHTLY MOVE UNDER GAS. GAVE NO WARNING. TRANSMISSION FAILURE AT 65,000 MI. - REBUILT AT AN AAMCO TRANSMISSION - COST APPROX. $2,000.00. DEALER DID NOT HELP. COMPLAINED TO MAZDA NORTH AMERICA VIA LETTER, GAVE ME $200. IN GIFT CERT. FOR SERVICE. COMPLAINED TO CONSUMER REPORTS WHO GAVE CAR BEST BUY RATING - NO NEGATIVE RATING ON TRANSMISSION. 2-REBUILT TRANSMISSION STARTED TO SLIP - HAD TRANS SHOP CHECK OUT, PROBLEM DUE TO TRANSMISSION FAILURE OF REBUILT TRANSMISSION. THIS HAPPENED JUST THIS LAST WEEK AT 88,000 MI. REBUILT AT STOP AND GO TRANSMISSION. COST TO ME APPROX $2,400.00 3- NOTICED MILDEW SMELL IN CAR - DISCOVERED TRUNK LEAK NOTICED AT 65,000MI. 2IN. OF WATER WOULD FORM IN SPARE TIRE WELL AFTER RAIN. CAR NEVER HIT PRIOR TO WHEN IT WAS FIXED. COST APPROX $400. *TR

NHTSA ID

10227800

Incident

Mar 8, 2006

Mileage

65,000 mi

THE O/D ON MY 2001 MAZDA 626 IS NOT DISENGAGING. I NOTICED IN MARCH WHEN I WAS AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT AND MY CARE STARTED OUT SUPER SLOW LIKE MY CAR WAS TAKING OFF IN 4TH GEAR. IT SHIFTED GEARS REAL FAST AND AFTER ABOUT 1 MINUTE, THE O/D OFF LIGHT STARTED FLASHING. THE ONLY WAY TO GET IT TO STOP WAS BY TURNING THE CAR OFF AND BACK ON. THE O/D DOES NOT DISENGAGE AT ALL NOW. I HAVE READ SO MANY REPORTS OF THE COSTS PEOPLE ARE PAYING WITH SIMILAR PROBLEMS THAT I HAVE HAD TO MANUALLY TURN OFF THE O/D EVERYTIME I SLOW DOWN AND STOP TO AVOID THIS ISSUE AND I HAVE NOT HAD THE ISSUE SINCE I STARTED DOING THIS. I AM HOPING THAT TURNING THE O/D OFF MANUALLY EACH TIME I STOP WILL SAVE MY TRANSMISSION. *TR

NHTSA ID

10223190

Incident

Mar 22, 2008

Mileage

81,456 mi

I HAVE A 2001 MAZDA 626 AUTO TRANS WITH 80,000 MILES ON IT. FOR THE MOST PART MY COMMUTES WOULD BE AN AVERAGE 10 MILES EACH WAY DAILY. LAST SIX MONTHS THE COMMUTE WAS ABOUT 25 MILES EACH WAY WITH A COMBINATION OF HIGHWAY AND CITY DRIVING. ON THE DAYS LEADING UP TO THE INCIDENT, THE CAR SEEMED TO JERK INTO THE HIGHER GEARS - THAT WAS THE FIRST SIGN OF TROUBLE. ON THE DAY OF THE INCIDENT, IT STARTED UP FINE BUT WOULD NOT MOVE FORWARD WHEN GEARS ARE ENGAGED IN "DRIVE" MODE. IT WOULD MOVE A LITTLE IN THE FIRST GEAR IF I PRESSED DOWN THE ACCELERATOR BUT NEVER SHIFTED INTO THE HIGHER GEAR. I DID NOT WANT TO BURN OUT MY ENGINE - SO I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE REPAIR SHOP. THE MECHANIC CHECKED IT OUT AND SAID THAT THEY WOULD HAVE TO REBUILD MY TRANSMISSION OR REPLACE IT WITH A REMANUFACTURED PIECE. HE ALSO STATED THAT IT MAY BE DIFFICULT TO GET A GOOD WORKING TRANSMISSION FROM ANOTHER CAR AS THIS TRANSMISSION (LA4A-EL BY MAZDA OR ITS EQUIVALENT CD4E BY FORD) HAVE BEEN KNOWN TO HAVE PROBLEMS. SO NOW I AM LOOKING AT A HIGH REPAIR BILL AND SINCE THIS IS A ONE CAR FAMILY, AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF HAVING TO ARRANGE ALTERNATIVE TRANSPORTATION. THIS IS THE THIRD MAZDA (929, MX6 AND NOW 626) IN THE FAMILY. NEVER HAD ISSUES WITH THE PREVIOUS CARS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10222060

Incident

Jan 4, 2008

TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS WITH A CODE OF P1744. DEALER ADVISED TO GO FOR REBUILT ONE AND CHARGED ME OVER $3000 WITH TAXES. I THINK MAZDA SHOULD TAKE SOME RESPONSIBILITY LOOKING AT SO MANY OTHER INCIDENCES THAT I FOUND ON THE WEB. *TR

NHTSA ID

10221578

Incident

Feb 14, 2008

Mileage

140,000 mi

3RD TRANSMISSION FAILURE. THIS ONE AT 113K MILES. LUCKY THIS ONE COVERED BY TRANSMISSION SHOP WARRANTY. *TR

NHTSA ID

10221044

Incident

Feb 14, 2008

Mileage

113,100 mi